Brassmasters Duchess test build

[Jim smith-wright]

Thanks John

there’s a huge urge not to cover it all in paint!

 

[Jim smith-wright]

Footplate with mounting bolts and Splashers in place and tided up ready for separating from the jig.


But before I can do that need to fit the cab, firebox, boiler and smoke box so that theres something to give it a degree of rigidity. This is the basic cab assembly.


And inside mounted to the footplate. The seats are posable!


The cab roof. This builds up on its own mini jig too.


Underside from the front end.


The main super structure comes in 3 parts cast in resin. The firebox and boiler. The smokebox saddle and the smoke box. There are 3 types. A round single chimney. The flattened top double chimney from the ex streamlined locos and a round double chimney as seen here.


The body removed from the jig, tidied up and fitted to the chassis.


Finally - I couldn't resist!

 

[34091 Weymouth]

On & off I've been following the progress of this build Jim.

It's really starting to take shape now, It looks a lovely kit from what you have shown so far & i am sure whoever purchases a kit will enjoy the build. We didn't get them around our end so i cannot warrant one for the big train set that said it is still tempting.

Si

 

[Scale7JB]

Lovely stuff.

Slowly coming round to a midland engine in my old(er) age..

JB.

 

[Jim smith-wright]

Just a little update this time - Been fitting some of the details to the body. Bogie wheels are temporary as I was doing a little testing (read that as shuffling it around on Brettell Road). I never realised how big these actually are. Right on the limit of the loading gauge!


Head on view



Left hand side. - In addition to the body details Ive also added the sandpipes and springs. The latter in both senses as I've fitted the main functional springs to the model as well as the cosmetic ones behind the wheels

 

[AJC]

It's starting to come together, isn't it? Having stood next to the real thing once of twice, the bulk is very apparent (as it is for all the biggest UK types - Merchant Navies, Kings in particular) which have that same quality. Only the Duchess overcomes that to my eye and then only with the deflectors on. Not that these big beasts are my thing, but a quality model, as this one is shaping to be, is always special.

Adam

 

[Jim smith-wright]

Progress on the Princess Coronation build continues with some test 3d prints for some of the details. These are only testing out ideas at this stage.


Above we see the bogie bearing pads and bracket, cylinder fronts, Ejector and brakes.


I admit that i had quite a wow! moment when I first saw the ejector. We are exploring the idea of 3d prints for the brake shoes as it allows you to position them closer to the wheels without risking a short. Where the front one squeezes in between the front driving wheel and the rear bogie wheel seems particularly advantageous.


Pony truck axlebox and springs along with some of the under cab pipework. One of the small AWS cylinders can be seen on the footplate


More AWS bits - this time on the firemans side. The roof is still a loose fit at this stage.


State of play so far.

 

[Arun Sharma]

I've left it a bit late but I had the chance to see this model at Scaleforum on the Brassmasters stand. It looks every bit as good in the flesh as it does in the above pics.

 

[Jim smith-wright]

Thanks Arun